If the Gottéron receives a competition from the National League at the Kantonalbank Arena, the rule applies: 9009 spectators, Guichet fermé. If the national team plays against the Czech Republic in the same stadium, two-thirds of the seats remain empty. Is it just overload? The attractiveness of an event is usually determined by its popularity with the public. The Euro Hockey Tour struggles with the same problems as the Champions Hockey League: the content is of sporting value and provides valuable information for experts, but these comparisons are not suitable as an event for the general public.
No vision, world cup every year
There is no vision in global hockey, the constant star of the IIHF is the world championship, which has been held every spring for decades. However, this principle only works because the NHL sends its stars to Europe in good faith. These stars are not enough between the world championships, and when the Swiss, Finns, Swedes and Czechs then also participate in almost meaningless tournaments, there are almost no spectators. Why should they? You see the same players as in the national championship, players who are expected to be of increasing importance in our championship. And should the Swiss hold their own against these top players in international comparisons, or even beat them? Somewhat absurd.
Sold out – when Gotteron plays
Unlike Sunday’s adversary, world champion and Olympic champion Finland, Switzerland cannot rely on quality in a broad sense. Of the Swiss strikers, only the very best are internationally competitive, and development opportunities are also dwindling due to the growing influence of foreigners in the National League. This problem is exacerbated with goalkeepers, as starting places for the Swiss are getting smaller and smaller.
In sports terms, the national team is a mirror image of the National League: foreigners set the pace. A homegrown problem affecting the quality of the national team. While this is only the problem of coach Fisher, the authorities of the National League in the first place cares about their own well-being. So far, the popularity of the public proves them right: when Lugano is a guest in Friborg on Tuesday, tickets for the FKB Arena will probably be sold out again.